Purple Martin Forum

I've found that placing a piece of cardboard about 18" square under neath the nest, with a rock or something to keep it in place, makes cleanup much easier.

There is a FB group for barn swallows called Barn Swallow Loft that has some good info.

Have a juvenile eagle that spends a lot of time on a cypress tree in the middle of a 4 acre pond behind us. We have a problem with cormorants using the same tree to roost in but when the “boss” shows up they hit the water and stay there until he decides to leave. Funny to watch, hope he deters the c...

Run inside and get the poodle.....she's as glad to hear them as I am, well almost!!

Aaron P

I would keep trying with the cups. I placed several on my porch about 3" from the ceiling. The first year had a pair late investigate several days but no nesting. Second year that pair came earlier and raised 2 clutches. Last year there were 2 pair nesting and both pairs had 2 clutches. So this...

Used two of them here in SC for about 4 yrrs. Have since replaced with gourds. Two main problems I had were high fledgling mortality rate (heat) and the bottoms rusted out. FWIW

I have the little vents open in each compartment, but most of my jumpers this year have been from my T 28! Temps here during the last couple weeks have been around 90 with high humidity.

Any idea how to better vent the compartments?

Martins here like the Bo 9 with clinger tunnel. I have some old Big Bo's with clinger tunnels, Bo 9's with clinger tunnels, and 60 Bo Plus with tunnels. All variations were taken, martins didn't seem to prefer one over the other. I do like the Bo Plus, but the tunnels have to be installed carefully....

Some linger for a few days, then leave. I think they stay in the area and socialize with other birds. Some evenings there are hundreds that perch for a while and cause a ruckus then head off to roost overnight. Once babies fledge, they have no need for cavities.......

Scout posted in Louisiana!

Congrats, and hope you have a great season. My daughter and son-in-law live in Apex....went up last weekend to help them set up a gourd system I was not using. They're excited to join the fray.

BTW, I'm in Conway, SC.

Just get vent caps from s&k for the Bo 9.

I have new trendsetter up as well. Been using all gourds but there are at least 2 pair using the trendsetter. I have the 28 model but do have a question about ventilation. Is there anything I need to do for best ventilation before the heat comes to SC? Thanks Edit: google is my friend!! I now see th...

Thanks, Tara! Taken care of.

Louise,

I can't post scout arrival. I have requested lost password and don't seem to be getting one. I've checked spam and not there either.

Aaron Piver

Check for yellow beaks on the males.......iridescent dots on the females. If so they're starlings.

Thanks, just hang in!

I moved to that location in 2008. No birds 'til 2010. First two years just a couple pairs, then in 2012 the site exploded and continues to grow. I've put up another pole that will have 12 gourds and two houses, I plan to stop with that!!

Here's a video of my little mini roost this year. Taken from the deck. Birds didn't seem to mind me being close as they gathered for the night. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5_P2IAK30k

Aaron

Al, My mini roost has been building up every evening. Might be getting some of your young ones. Last night there were tons of birds in the big cypress tree and both gourd trees were loaded. Right at dark about half of them left and the rest stayed tucked in near the pole on the gourd arms. Fun to wa...

I have a "cheap" Stoeger X10 that I paid $129 for. After a little break in period, it does pretty well. I have picked a sparrow off my gourd porch at about 70'.......but I've also nicked the porch on a few as well!! I'm in the process of putting a scope on it now.....the old eyes aren't wh...